BHC a no show — and tempers flare

BIRK Hillman Consultants (BHC) yesterday failed to show  at the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco airport development project, although lawyers for the company sent a fax to the Commission acknowledging receipt of its summons.

It is believed that BHC will not take part in the Inquiry, which is expected to end this month. When BHC was called yesterday no one appeared on its behalf. Lead attorney for the Commission Theodore Guerra, SC informed the Commission that the company was served a summons which BHC’s attorney had acknowledged receipt through a fax letter to the Commission. Guerra was stopped from disclosing the contents of the fax by Chairman Clinton Bernard. At the start of the inquiry last year attorney Bruce Procope QC appeared for BHC. Witnesses who implicated BHC during their evidence were told to be on “stand by” for today, in case BHC has a change of heart. The police officer who served the summons to BHC will also testify that he did serve the summons.

Also at yesterday’s sitting Dennis John, the former Airports Authority Security Manager returned to the witness stand to be questioned by Guerra in a session which caused tempers to flare and John to again be warned about the $2,000 fine under the Commission of Inquiry Act for not fully answering questions. John also complained that the Commissioners had frowned on his way of speaking. But Bernard explained that was because he had been rude to Guerra, and impertinent to the Chair. John maintained that he never saw the contract awarded to the Firearms Training Institute and the only reason he signed claims approving money to the Institute was because he was acting on the instructions of his boss, Rampersad Hadaway. Guerra was not satisfied with John’s answers because they appeared to be contradictory to his previous evidence, loudly asked John “do you take us for idiots here?”

John’s attorney Sean Cazabon objected to the tone and language, but was told by Bernard that Guerra was merely making an observation which usually occurs in court. Cazabon pointed out that it was not a court, but an inquiry, and was told by Bernard that attorneys for the Commission had a free hand. He later told Guerra to use a softer tone to accommodate Cazabon. But it was not to be. Shortly after Guerra told John that he was an “unrepentant liar”. Cazabon again objected and Guerra was asked to rephrase the question. Instead Guerra accused John of not only being an “unrepentant liar but also a pathological liar”. Cazabon again objected, but it was overruled by Bernard. John’s reply to the accusation was that his evidence had been consistent at all times. The inquiry will continue today at 9.30 am.